Music Talk Session Wrap Up

Posted by radiogetswild on 2008-06-10 12:24:24 (2058 views)

by David Knight (Music Talk Sessions), Recording artists new to the Music Talks community, the session wrap up is an overview of previous sessions. In the wrap-ups I highlight what took place during the sessions along with initial information about the sessions. Video footage of the sessions will be released in the coming weeks. Let's jump into the wrap-ups!

Listen 2 Ya Mix launched New York and Los Angeles February sessions. The recording engineers Peter Barker, Keith Wechsler and Drew Daniels really got into listening to the music and providing the creative and technical feedback to artists. All recording engineers in NY and LA got up from the dais and went to the back of the room to have a more accurate listening position, treating Listen 2 Ya Mix as they would any professional critical listening situation. As a whole many of the songs we listened to were pretty well recorded. I believe it's a sign that recording artists are starting to embrace the recording process. While we don't strive to be recording engineers, it's a big plus when you're working with engineers to be able to communicate effectively. This can only be accomplished by understanding recording terms and language coupled by some level of experience in the recording process.

What I found interesting was that many of the comments were about production, or should I say the lack of production, better ways to approach a song vocally, drums not being tuned properly or at all. That's a point that came up in NY and LA! Musicianship not tight, using certain instruments that are used as staples in certain styles of music, like don't use a banjo in funk music, the creative aspect of that is great, but somehow or another, it just does not work! An interesting question came up during the LA Listen 2 Ya Mix. The question was asked, "when do you know that you have a perfect mix?" Recording engineer Drew Daniels gave a good basic answer, which I felt, was something we non-engineers could practice. He said, "When you hear the music and not the mix, that's a good indication that you have a good mix." However, recording engineer Keith Wechsler said that did not work for him. Keith gives his reasons why and you can check that out and all of the other valuable L! isten 2 Ya Mix info on the up coming Podcast!

I have to admit that when Maggie asked everyone during "The Balancing Act" to share some of their problems in life and career I was just as uncomfortable as everyone else in the room. It was clear to see that we as people don't speak openly about our "personal" problems. The room was so quite when the question to share "openly" was asked Â this happened in NY and LA Â Maggie had to assure everyone that anything that was said would stay in the room. Knowing that, how do I write about it? Well, I'll keep it short! Once everyone started to open up and talk about his or her personal concerns and problems, the ball started rolling. What Maggie and I both knew was that many artists would answer the question and speak on problems in their professional life. However, she was looking for problems and issues in their personal life that may have stopped their growth in their professional life. No one was suspecting this! Everyone had some type of goal in his or her professional life! . No one had goals for their personal life. Everyone had a clear picture of seeing their success in their professional life, no one thought that they needed a picture in their personal life. When asked who's having fun? No one answered; oh wait one artist in LA said I'm having fun today at the session! Maggie's introduction to the Balancing Act" during these sessions is only the beginning of the program. There's a whole lot more to it! It runs deep and it produces results to those who participate. Most of all it's easy to understand and practice. We are making the program a founding part of Music Talks' Personal Development discipline and encourage you all to take advantage of its teachings. "The Balancing Act" was born out of pain, hurt, confusion, disconnection, abuse, unconscious thinking, healing, happiness and finally peace!

Eric De Fontenay, using a case study of the band he manages Kobo Town, explained the importance of team building during the NY session. Eric explained that "DIY" is good when you're first getting started but soon after artists must realize that putting together a team to handle tasks that you "the artist" really should not be doing should be of great importance to you and your career. Further he talked about building relationships and identifying potential team members within those relationships. He explained that when he and his partners started to build musicdish.com that they had certain levels of experience among the founders. He himself coming from a magazine and marketing background was of tremendous help. Still sales, accounting, legal issues and systems had to all be put in place and many of those skills and experience were missing.

This held true for the new band he is managing as well as Kobo Town. As their manager once again he had marketing experience and industry contacts. However, he knew having gone through the process with musicdish.com that a team was going to be needed once he brings them to the next level. I find this to be a problem with so many artists. We have to begin to realize that no one walking the earth who has achieved any level of success has done it alone! No one in any industry has become successful by themselves. Just because the internet, recording technology and digital downloads has made it possible for today's recording artists to create, market and distribute their music without a record company does not mean that they should. I know just dealing with marketing by itself, is a task that takes a team! My dad often said to me as I was growing up, "David, if you want to live your life going around fooling and playing games with other people's minds, I don't recommend it, bu! t it's your life. However David, don't play games and fool yourself!" I took his advice! This simply means don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't need a team. You really do now, or you will soon.

Sheena Metal, or as I now call her Mama Metal delighted everyone in LA with her wealth of knowledge in marketing and promotions. I won't even go into all that she said because no one can say it better than Sheena. Once the videos are released you will see her in action, but to give you an idea I listed below five bullet points from her over 20 point list that she pulled off the top of her head, out of her pockets and magic bag. I recommend any artist who attended the NY session and those who are in other countries to become a part of Sheena's circle. If you ever had fun in high school learning from a teacher, you will once again enjoy that experience with Sheena!

1. Take interest in what others are doing
2. Be on everyone's list
3. You don't need an album!
4. Carry Business cards
5. Keep website and Myspace pages easy to load

Esession.com Co-founders Gina Fant-Saez and recording engineer Kevin Killen along with recording engineer Marc Urselli introduced esession.com. They took us through a complete tour as to how esession.com works, its power and many advantages. Esession makes it easy for recording artists all around the world to record music and exchange an entire production with other musicians regardless of the digital audio workstation that's being used. One of the most useful features of Esession is the glass window plug-in. It mirrors recording studios by allowing users to be able to see each other during the online sessions.

File management was a concern to artists. Gina explained that Esession is the perfect tool to use for managing your recorded songs files. It also provides a safe heaven for your audio files. In the event your local hard drive crashes, you still have the files on the Esession servers! Having so many features and benefits, it's hard to imagine anyone not using esession.com for managing files, communications file protection but most of all incorporating the creative process between yourself and other musicians. We have become too focused on doing it all ourselves, now with esessions.com, you can search talent on their website or provide your talent to others and make money!

Round Table
The Los Angeles round table was wonderful. Studio owner, engineer and artist John M, Tony Adams of audioMIDI.com and engineer, Drew Daniels of Sound Path recording and mastering rounded up the day. We were all tired by the time this segment started. Running an hour behind schedule because the previous segments were so informative. The round table's focus was in providing artists with the information needed to build a home working environment around their specific needs and their level of recording. It also focused on recording vocals. Almost immediately what was discovered was an interest in better understanding microphones and microphone recording techniques. Many artists seem to turn a knob or push a button on a compressor or eq, when in fact just changing the mic position could potentially get you the results you're looking for.

Further, being able to identify the proper mic for the job at hand is also of great importance! John M mentioned, if you have limited funds as you are building your studio, workstation or project, "invest in a good mic". As the general manager of audioMIDI.com, Tony Adams made note, the quality line in mics is starting to turn gray. Meaning, you can now purchase a microphone for $300 and it sounds very close to a $2,000 mic! There is much truth to this; however, high-end mics still have the overall edge. Needless to say, you have to contact recording engineers, retailers and other artists to get some feedback on all that's going on out there when purchasing a mic or any gear for that matter. It was suggested during the round table to rent the microphone or gear that you are interested in purchasing. This allows you to "test drive" the product before laying down the Benjamin's or plastic!

For more information visit us at: www.musictalkssessions.com.

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